Responding to the Unknown: What to Do With That Restless or Anxious Energy

You recently may have learned about the disappearance of Jonathan Lacina, an ISU senior, and have been reading about intensive search and investigation efforts to find him. News like this touches everyone who learns of it. It is common to feel shock that such a thing can happen, empathy for what family and friends must endure, and often a restless desire to do something to help. It can also be normal for such an event to trigger thoughts of dread or feelings of anxiety especially when there is a prolonged period of time when no information or certain explanations are available. The more uncertain a person feels, the more fears about safety and theories about what must be happening can take shape and multiply as others around feel the same distress. Here are some tips for channeling and managing the thoughts and feelings that may arise:

1. Connect with family and friends to express feelings of shock, sadness, worry, as well as to
exchange relevant information and stories. This is an age-old practice that humans have found useful for millennia during periods of anxiety and grief.

2. If you feel inclined to do so, find ways to offer help. Posting flyers, posting or sending short messages of support to family and friends are two things students can do now. If it is part of your spiritual perspective, actively focusing support through prayers and meditations may help those most affected as well as ease you own restlessness and desire to do something positive.

3. Review and modify your practices of safety and connection but stay grounded in realistic expectations. It may be that letting friends or roommates know of your plans more regularly and making more explicit agreements with family about how often you will connect with each other can help everyone to be more clear about what to expect and what is unusual. It’s always a good idea to plan for safe rides or walking buddies when moving around campus or community especially at night.

4. Avoid focusing on unproven speculations or theories that can multiply fears and anxious thoughts. If you are doing what is reasonable to stay safe, it may not be helpful to surf the net or engaged in speculative conversations about these events. Law enforcement and other officials are assigned to look at such things.

5. If you feel that none of what you have tried is enough, Student Counseling is available for you. Just phone 294-5056 for an appointment.

6. Remember an unexpected and difficult event will always have effects on us. It is normal to feel even more anxious when there are not solid explanations. In addition to normal responses of worry and sadness, it is possible to use new awareness to strengthen connections, communications, and feelings of gratitude for the communities that sustain us through good and bad times.